dermo

A great end to the tour in Berlin on Tuesday and I am so happy and thankful I was able to make the trip. I met Joe O Herlihy in the airport on Wednesday morning. He is a true gentleman and was happy to take photographs and chat with anyone the many people who approached him.  Thanks Joe

4 minutes ago, Manohlive said:

Have they been taking the stage around 8:30?   I saw they were going to start right at 8:00 and then saw 8:40 in live threads.  Anyone know?  If so, thanks in advance.

Yes 8.40 seems to have been the stage time for all shows so far

2 hours ago, CorkVegan said:

That rules out Páirc Uí Chaoimh then.

I thought from how he worded his comments he didn't actually rule it out

In his interview on 2FM in the last hour Bono said they are looking at indoor shows.  'For Songs Of Experience that is our plan. We want to go indoors and we are just working it out now'.  

Stuart Clark from Hot Press just mentioned Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a possible Irish Venue

I have said it before and I will say it again. These fan run lists (not queues) work to the benefit of the few not the many and are open to abuse.  These relatively small cliques, some of whom with a sense of entitlement, controlling entry is not right. Please U2, for future tours, put something in place yourselves that is transparent and fair to all fans.  

If  you haven't already done so have a read of Matt McGees piece :

https://www.atu2.com/news/its-time-for-u2-to-take-over-its-own-ga-line.html

The current fan run lists are clearly not working for alot of people and as ally33 pointed out they are, unfortunately, open to abuse.  I agree with Matt McGees piece on atu2.com on 26 July, 'It's time for U2 to take control of it's own GA Line'.  This can apply to Redzone lines also.

I was lucky enough to make it to the Berlin and Dublin Joshua Tree Tour shows and while both were fantastic something that did spoil them slightly for me were peoples use of their phones and cameras.  Now I'm not against taking a few snaps but it has now reached the point where there is too much of it.  Some and I stress some people seem more intent on, and happy with the distraction of, capturing photos and videos than enjoying the moment and reliving the memories of the show in their minds.  It's a live show for heavens sake, so enjoy that live momentfor what it is.  At the Berlin show in particular there was one gentleman beside me who live streamed nearly the whole show constantly moving about to get the best shot while in Dublin there were times that the band could hardly be seen while on the B stage for the forest of arms raised aloft. Don't get me wrong I love to watch videos , some of great quality, of the shows but if being able to see these is at the expense of my enjoyment of the show well then I would rather have my memories.

I posted this in another thread but it's probably worth mentioning here. In Ireland some peoples approach to 'queuing' can be different to say the least and add that to Irish peoples aversion to being told what to do by by those in authority let alone apparently self appointed queue organisers, things might not go as smoothly as in other cities. Having said that I suppose like in most places it largely depends on how it is stewarded.

The lanyard is disappointing

It will be interesting to see how things pan out in Dublin next week.  'Queuing' in Ireland can be different to say the least and add that to Irish peoples aversion to being told what to do by by those in authority let alone apparently self appointed queue organisers, things might not go as smoothly as in other cities.

Does anyone know how strict security is likely to be at the Berlin Olympic Stadium?  I know bags are not allowed but is this likely to include small ladies hand bags? Thanks

31 shows.  49 years on the earth

Croke Park                                                      Dublin                                29/06/1985

Croke Park                                                      Dublin                                27/06/1987

Pairc Ui Chaoimh                                            Cork                                   08/08/1987

Pairc Ui Chaoimh                                            Cork                                   24/08/1993

RDS                                                                Dublin                                 28/08/1993

Feyenoord Stadion                                         Rotterdam                          18/07/1997

Feyenoord Stadion                                         Rotterdam                          19/07/1997

Lansdowne Road                                           Dublin                                 30/08/1997

Lansdowne Road                                           Dublin                                 31/08/1997

The Astoria Theatre                                       London                               07/02/2001

United Centre                                                 Chicago                              16/05/2001

MEN Arena                                                     Manchester                        11/08/2001

Slane Castle                                                   Slane                                  25/08/2001

Croke Park                                                     Dublin                                 24/06/2005

Croke Park                                                     Dublin                                 25/08/2005

Croke Park                                                     Dublin                                 27/08/2005

Madison Square Garden                               New York                            07/10/2005

Madison Square Garden                               New York                            11/10/2005

Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann                Nice                                    15/07/2009

Croke Park                                                    Dublin                                  24/07/2009

Croke Park                                                    Dublin                                  25/07/2009

Croke Park                                                    Dublin                                  27/07/2009

Giants Stadium                                              East Rutherford                   24/09/2009

Rogers Arena                                                Vancouver                           14/05/2015

Rogers Arena                                                Vancouver                           15/05/2015

Ziggo Dome                                                   Amsterdam                         09/09/2015

O2 Arena                                                        London                              29/10/2015

3 arena                                                           Dublin                                23/11/2015

3 arena                                                           Dublin                                24/11/2005

3 arena                                                           Dublin                                27/11/2015

3 arena                                                           Dublin                                28/11/2015

A 'private bar' with a limited over priced selection of drink

'one final North American show' suggests maybe they are not finished with Ireland/Europe.

Cork in  August is still possible!

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I hoped something could be done to stop the touts, including Seatwave.  I know U2 are contracted to Live Nation/Ticketmaster/Guy Oseary et al but somebody needs to be first to make a stand on behalf of concert goers and in my opinion U2 are big and bold enough to do so.  Its all very well sending pizza to those queuing in Stephens Green but make a stand that will really make a difference to the fans.  The only alternative I see is that governments get involved and legislate against this highway robbery.

Thoughts / hopes / dreams about the forthcoming tour

I'm sure like many others, since the Christmas Day message I have been thinking about the forthcoming tour.  These are some of my random thoughts on the perennial U2 tour issues,  what I would like to see happen, what might actually happen, the hoops we will have to jump through etc in the coming months.  I will of course preface this list by stating the glaringly obvious fact that this is a first world topic:

So here goes:

A Joshua Tree show in the National Opera House (for those who know it, it will always be the Theatre Royal to me) in Wexford.  I could walk there and home.

Look after / help  the fans

Try to beat the touts and I include Seatwave in this

Don't over price

Make the subscription really worth while

Allow subscribers to use presale codes for more than one show

Exclusive shows for subscribers

Ireland only presale for Irish shows

Reward the fans but don't pitch fan against fan

Announce all Cities to be visited at the same time

 

I don't care about the contest, just curious who actually invented it? Does anyone know? I talked to Bono in Paris the day before the original HBO shooting and he didn't have the slightest clue about it. He was very surprised there was an e-stage-contest, so it wasn't the band's idea, that's for sure

Really? That is very interesting! I noticed they had WAY more than 5 fans up there last night. I wonder if they called a whole bunch more on the contest list.

 

I think there in lies the basis of some peoples problem with this 'popularity contest'. There was no apparent transparency in how it was run.  And  before someone points out that there are alot more important things going on in the world that we should be devoting our time to, of course there are but in the U2.COM bubble it was significant and somewhat devisive.  Likewise it may be pointed out that this was their contest and so they could run it however they wanted and again this is of course the case.

Hi Mike,

 

From another post in these forums, I found BBC2 is showing it on 27th Dec, Sounds better to wait until then, then there'd be no ads during the show, and can also catch it on HD on Sky

 

thanks for the update anyway

I think RTE still don't show ads on Christmas day

RTE2 will be showing it on Christmas Day.  I don't know what time yet.

I just picked up 2 seated tickets for Saturday night on Ticketmaster.ie

In my opinion the ticket prices have been way to expensive for this tour.  Fans will pay the prices being asked but people with a lesser interest or curiosity were put off by the cost..  I cant speak for the North or the rest of the world but the Republic is just coming out of an awful recession, many people still aren't feeling the benefits of the recovery and so spending up to €200 on a U2 ticket is not a priority or even an option for many.

Wrap up warm!

https://www.newstalk.com/Ireland-set-for-worst-winter-in-years

_{Yes you'll get an email a few days before the show}

I hate having to deal with them and give them my hard earned money.  Unfortunately as the band are so closely linked with them it would appear to me when it comes to U2 we are stuck with these legal touts.  What they are doing with seatwave is a disgrace.